Ministik Trailheads
Ministik Trailheads are sorted here by the number of hikes starting from the trailhead. This indicates quantity, but not necessarily quality. đ Browse the hikes from mulitiple trailheads to find those that match both your urge for exploration and your fitness level.
This list doesn’t yet include all Ministik trailheads. Future additions are planned.
U of A Field Station Access Road Gate
Itâs fair to say that the U of A Access Road Gate is the âfront doorâ of the Ministik. The gated road leads to a former U of A Research Station. The facility seems to have been shuttered for many years, but the road itself is periodically cleared of deadfall and other obstacles.
Francis Edward Williams Trailhead
This trailhead offers somewhat meager parking: one vehicle can safely pull off the road and park in front of the gate here. When parking, beware of the steep ditches here. Especially in winter it’s all too easy to slide into the ditch where you’ll probably need AMA assistance to get you back out.
Stove Lake Trailhead
The Stove Lake Trailhead, named after a now completely dried up lake nearby, has best parking space among Ministik trailheads. Situated on a sharp curve the wide, sloped ditch between the road and the trailhead gate allows room for multiple vehicles. Even in winter thereâs room along the road itself to park multiple vehicles safely.
Waskahegan Berg Section - South Trailhead
The Waskahegan Berg Section - South Trailhead is a bit different from other Ministik trailheads in that there is no safe parking at the trailhead itself. But parking is very close nearby at the U of A Access Gate. Once parked near the gate, walk for about 3 minutes west, cross the road and ditch and then access the trailhead to start your hike.
Mandy Lake Road Trailhead
The Mandy Lake Road trailhead is well-used in all seasons. Although it is at the end of Township Rd 502, past any local farmyards, it gets maintenance attention in all seasons. There is ample parking along the small pond side of the road. Please don’t block the gate even though it is seldom, if ever, used.
Fairbrother Corner Trailhead
Named for a former, nearby land owner, Fairbrother corner provides you with immediate access to the Waskahegan Trail. When you walk past the gate, the Waskahegan extends both directly east and directly south. Ample parking is available here, thanks to the absence of a ditch and the generous space between the road and the treeline. This means you can easily park multiple vehicles safely off the road.
Misasin Trailhead
Like the trail, this trailhead seems seldom used, but because it is situated along a quiet road, it offers plenty of parking space in any season. In season, you can pull off the road into the very shallow ditch or simply park as far off the road as possible if snow is a factor.